Review: Prelude to Transformers: Combiner Wars – Optimus Prime

With the brand new Transformers: Combiner Wars cartoon show kicking off on the 2nd of August, Hasbro has put together four short Prelude videos as a means of promoting the series, each of which focuses on a Transformers character who has a big role to play in the upcoming Combiner Wars. The first robot in disguise to be cast under the spotlight is none other than the most famous Transformer of them all, the courageous (former) leader of the heroic Autobots, Optimus Prime!

Those unfamiliar with the IDW Transformers comics will no doubt be wondering why Optimus Prime is no longer the leader of the Autobots, as the Combiner Wars show is supposedly taking place in the same universe as said comics. It is because there have been times in this continuity where Optimus renounced his leadership. While he generally still plays a big role during these periods, he does not consider himself the head honcho and tries not to boss people around (unless they ask him to, which tends to happen quite a bit!).

What is less clear is exactly when Optimus’ battle against Megatron actually takes place. As those who follow the IDW comics know all too well, by the time the Combiner Wars roll out (pun intended) Megatron has already become an Autobot and has been so for quite some time, so it must have taken place much earlier than that. Since Megatron is still around post-Combiner Wars, it is unlikely that Prime’s talk of this being a final battle holds any real merit other than creating a cool soundbite.

The battle between Optimus Prime and Megatron that we see here is far from riveting stuff, mainly due to the crude animation. There is one moment in particular where Optimus does a spinning kick which looks more like a silly ballerina twirl – making the whole encounter look very naff. Similarly, we see Optimus transforming from truck to robot early in the episode and it looks equally dodgy. This is in stark contrast to the beautiful art style which we saw in preview images for the actual Combiner Wars show.

On the more positive side of things, it’s always nice to hear Peter Cullen provide the voice of Optimus Prime (as he did in both the original ’80s cartoon and the recent Michael Bay movies), even if he is just recycling old Optimus-isms about freedom being the right of all sentient beings and “one shall stand, one shall fall” nods to 1986’s Transformers: The Movie.

The Optimus Prime edition of Prelude to Transformers: Combiner Wars is little more than a bit of cheaply put together fan service for those with fond memories of the old ’80s cartoon. While it will no doubt stir up some nostalgic feelings among Generation 1 fans of a certain vintage, it’s not a very good plug for the upcoming Combiner Wars series. In fact, Hasbro et al. would do well to remind people that the actual cartoon will look and feel nothing like this, as what we see here is quite poorly slapped together both in terms of visuals and content.

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Sean is Geek Ireland's resident dinosaur enthusiast, having been fascinated by prehistory since a time before he could read, speak or stand in an upright position (he still struggles to do at least one of these things on a daily basis).
Known as one of the biggest dinosaur fans Ireland has ever produced, Sean has delivered talks on his favourite subject at many venues and events including the Irish Film Institute, the UCD Science Expression Festival, Tayto Park, Dublin Comic Con and even London's Comedy Store.